When selecting salt chlorinators for professional pool construction, choosing the right cell size ensures the system can generate enough chlorine to maintain clear, safe water. The following table compares the most common models from Pentair and Hayward to help you match the right capacity to your pool design.

Brand	Model/Cell	Max Pool Capacity	Daily Chlorine Output
Pentair	IntelliChlor IC20	20,000 Gallons	0.70 lbs
Pentair	IntelliChlor IC40	40,000 Gallons	1.40 lbs
Pentair	IntelliChlor IC60	60,000 Gallons	2.00 lbs
Hayward	T-CELL-3	15,000 Gallons	0.53 lbs
Hayward	T-CELL-9	25,000 Gallons	0.98 lbs
Hayward	T-CELL-15	40,000 Gallons	1.45 lbs

For high-performance pool construction in warmer climates like Costa Rica, a common industry best practice in pool design is to “oversize” the cell by selecting a unit rated for at least 1.5 to 2 times your actual pool volume. This strategy allows the equipment to run at a lower output percentage, which significantly extends the lifespan of the cell and provides extra sanitizing power during periods of heavy bather load or heavy tropical rains.